On April 1, 2025, Somali police forces raided the headquarters of 5 Somali TV in Mogadishu and detained four journalists who were performing their professional duties.
The Independent Media Council of Somalia has condemned these actions as a serious violation of press freedom and called for the immediate release of the journalists, along with a thorough investigation into the conduct of the police officers involved.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of press freedom violations in Somalia.
On March 18, 2025, Somali police shut down Risaala Media Corporation, an independent radio station, and arrested five journalists following their reporting on a bombing attack targeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy in Mogadishu.
The journalists were later released, but the station remained off-air.
Furthermore, on March 19, 2025, Somali police detained 19 journalists from various media outlets who were reporting on the same bombing attack.
The journalists were held briefly, had their equipment confiscated, and were forced to delete their footage before being released.
These events highlight the increasing risks faced by journalists in Somalia, where reporting on sensitive issues such as security and corruption often leads to harassment, detention, and violence.
Press freedom organizations continue to call for the protection of journalists and the upholding of media freedoms in the country.